Jim bailey - 928 International

Ray I just about fell off my chair when I read this one ..."Main issue is that the intake needs to be taken off and the underlying hoses / sensors need to be refurb. / replaced. Also, could use motor mounts. Large, dirty jobs being delayed pending funds / time. I am installing Murf stage 1 S/C kit - almost done.... Will deal with intake / motor mounts as soon as I have time....." I am sorry but bolting a blower on to an engine that needs BASIC repairs seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Adam Geist

OK - I'll go next. I purchased two 928's from eBay. The first one was purchased a four years ago. I had been looking for 9+ months, running many Carfax reports, speaking directly to the sellers and personally inspecting a few. I finally found one that was in decent shape with 78k miles on the odometer. The car was out of state but upon inspection, was as described in the listing.

The second purchase was a couple of weeks ago. It was close by (within 20 miles) and Mike (NJSharkFan) met me at the car to do a PPI. I was looking for an '86.5 parts car and we thought we found something a few notches above that. For the price, I thought it was a good buy.

I spent a few hours under the hood this past weekend and this latest purchase has excellent potential to be a daily driver in the Spring (after doing the major stuff - TB/WP, intake refresh, etc.).

For some reason, I like the '86.5's.
Adam

rgranvold

Jim - falling off chairs can be dangerous.... FYI - I'm doing the whole job - intake, motor mounts, etc. Just in reverse order. I wanted to install the S/C first to shake out the rough parts. I'll let you know how it works out.... I jus' wish I had access to SharkTuner to fine tune once the rest is done...

Jim bailey - 928 International

OH good I feel much better now ! Just worried that someone would be boosting an engine with KNOWN running problems. Did Bill Ball get a sharktuner ?? He is not far from you.

rgranvold

When I most everything shaken down I was going to give Bill a call... I met him (briefly) at the Sharks in the Park meet earlier summer. I figure there's little point until I have all the bits dialed in first - it does seem to take a lot of time (and $$$) to get there tho' (beware EBay Shark Hunters). Guess it's the price of the Shark game ;-0

Jim bailey - 928 International

Owning a 928 is about the journey and not the destination , nothing average about it ! You get the highs as well as the lows

Bill Ball

I see some general insinuations spinkled here that eBay is evil or dangerous and some suggestions that you are somehow stupid if you buy a car in an auction, agreeing to pay more than anyone else would. That is so narrow-minded and ignorant I can't let it go by. From my point of view, eBay has greatly increased my ability to buy and sell just about anything from my kids used ski equipment (buy one year, use it, outgrow it, sell it the next) for an extremely low net cost, to items that just aren't likely to be found anywhere else, like many, many parts for my 76 GL1000.

Yes, there are scams. Yes, there are deceptive sellers. Surprise! Welcome to the real world! Scams and deceptive sellers are everywhere. For God's sake, please do NOT use email - it's full of spam and scams. So's snailmail for that matter. Just lock yourself in the house and don't answer the door!

Winning an auction is no different than buying from a OBO newspaper ad. Yes, do NOT send ANY money until you've kicked the tires. Some people do it, like the guy that sent me $11K for a 20 year old car he had never seen - I didn't even ask him to do that. What a nut! Do not buy from a guy named Schmidt in St. Louis. Don't buy electronics that seem awfully cheap from a guy who suddenly offers a truckload of them while his feedback consists of selling $2 baseball cards. Get it?

It's not that hard to find good deals on 928s or what-have-you being sold by decent people for a fair price on eBay. In many areas of the country if you try doing that locally the "traditional" "safe" way from a newspaper ad you will be looking for many years. I was missing the kick start lever from my 76 GL1000, which long ago became NLA from Honda. The local motorcycle dismantler laughed at me when I asked if he had one. One yard in Pennsylvania had one but wanted $75 for it, rust included. I checked eBay and there were 3 listed. $15 and a week later I had the lever. I even bought an NOS one in the original Honda part bag for $50 to save should I decide to restore the bike.

I guess I'm just a bleeding optimist. I get a lot of benefit from living, and for me eBay is one of the more positive recent technological developments that makes life easier for me. When I go out to the garage and see my 928, I give thanks to eBay for helping me find it. And today when I took my GL1000 out for a nice ride with a bunch of parts on it acquired from eBay that helped to get it running again, I had a big, big smile on my face.

leperboy

Bill,
I think you hit the nail on the head, especially when it comes to needing parts or restoration. First, not everyone is trying to rip you off. I've sold many parts on eBay and I don't. Heck, some parts I put up even though I know they may sell for a dollar of two, just because I know someone out there may desperately need that little piece.

Buying and selling cars is the same. I sold my Falcon convertible on there to a flake who backed out after she won because she didn't bother to ask a single question or contact me during the auction. She chickened out when I told her "I've never done it, so I don't know and can't guarantee it." to her post-purchase question of "Can I drive it home?" Exactly the kind of question people should ask beforehand.

I was extremely honest and critical in my description of the car because the last thing I want is for someone to be disappointed. It's not worth a couple hundred bucks to me. But the buyer had stars in her eyes and ignored all that because it was the color she wanted.

I think there are con artists selling on there, but I also think there are lots of buyers who hope for the best and aren't critical enough. They get caught up in the auction, they see someone else outbid them and they panic and justify a higher bid with "I bet it's not bad" or "maybe this is a hidden gem." They get caught up in the auction and don't bother to be level-headed or critical. They end up baling the seller and saying they got ripped off because it's easier than blaming themselves.

With eBay, you suddenly have several junkyards and dismantlers right at your fingertips Restoring my 63 Galaxie was much easier thanks to eBay. All these parts I had no idea where to start looking for were right there. And when I replaced my turn signal housings, I could put the old ones up there for someone not as picky as me.

So, I think eBay is an awesome resource, so long as you do your homework when buying. You might still get ripped off, but it's far less likely. And when you sell something you understand that it's partially your responsibility to keep eBay a good place to shop by being as honest and open as you can be. Don't crap where you eat.

Matt

Jim bailey - 928 International

Bill you certainly are entitled to your opinion..."That is so narrow-minded and ignorant I can't let it go by. " Ebay obviously serves a function or it would not exist. Buying old used cars AS IS without driving and seeing them is a LOT different than a pair of ski boots ! I can accept narrow minded even opinionated but ignorant ?? Take care my friend.

Daniel Dudley

I have purchased a number of cars off ebay, including several 928s.

I prefer to pay in person now, after seeing and driving the car. Long distance PPIs can be really skewed.

However, the last car I purchased was a Prussian Blue 85 928 that was set up by Al Holbert. This was a two owner car that has been worked on by the same mechanic since new. Everything works, imaculate, and a super driver. The car was better than represented, and a real deal. I see maybe three or four super deals on ebay a year - this time I pulled the trigger. Went to see it in person, inspected it, drove it, and passed a certified bank check.

I couldn't be happier if I was Porken.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Ah yes .."Long distance PPIs can be really skewed." I thought it was spelled with a "cr" and not a "k" the winning bid is just an option with first right of refusal. Many bidders have multiple accounts build a good rating with small purchases and then use it for the big deals if it goes South negative feedback means ....NOTHING , just roll to the next ccount. One GTS I saw the PPI repainted rear bumper cover was actually pretty heavy frame damage...but that is just one bad example there are many positive ones.

Hilton

The problem with ebay is that the average buyer in this day and age seems to be incapable of managing their own risks. Oh wait, thats not a problem with ebay, or with the seller.

I'm with Bill - ebay is a great resource. If people are dumb enough to not manage their own risks in a purchase process, to a level acceptable to them, why is that ebay's, or the seller's problem? If someone walks into a used-car dealership, would they agree to buy and pay for a car that's "at our storage location a few blocks away, but runs real good" by taking only the salesman's word for it?

Buying a car without seeing or driving is fine, as long as you're aware of the risks involved, and manage them in ways that are appropriate to your own car-buying risk profile.

I bought a car without seeing or driving it, but I mitigated the risks by arranging for a PPI by a specialist recommended by other 928 owners, and using a carfax-like service in the country I bought the car from to verify the mileage, accident and finance history of the car. Yes, it was still more risky than seeing the car in person myself, but the level of risk was acceptable to me within the bounds of my own risk profile and circumstances.

Assessing the impact of a bad result is an important part of calculating risk - spending $5k on a bad result could be a minor setback to some, or a tragedy to others.

Ways to manage risk buying a 928 off ebay in my own estimation of effectiveness (most effective first):

1. Not paying money until you're satisfied the car is as advertised, or at least up to the standards you expect for your money.

2. Try to leave emotional need for a 928 out of the purchasing decision - there are plenty of other sharks in the sea. Also don't feel bad for the seller if you decide the car's not for you - its not your fault if their car isn't the car you're looking for. Also remember you're not trying to "win" the car, you're shopping for a car.

3. Arranging for a 928-knowledgeable third party to test drive and inspect.

4. Arranging your own test-drive and inspection (assuming you know less than whoever does 3. above)

5. Get as much independent information as you can. Carfax, mechanic who services it etc.

6. Buy off a seller known to you as reliable (e.g. Rennlisters selling a car on ebay).

7. Communicate as much as possible - pictures, questions, copies of history. Not just to verify specific things, but also to gather information on the seller.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Hilton that is very well stated and far more usefull than what I posted ....thank you !

Podguy

I am not sure I totally agree with seeing the car as a necessity. I mainly buy cars locally because of transportation costs, but have bought cars from other places when they are a good deal and something hard to find. All 928s display similar problems. If the A/C does not work then it needs more than a charge. You can assume there are new hoses, a dryer and even repairs the the vacuum acutators needed. If someone lets the A/C go then it is a given they have let other things go as well. Crank that into the price.

If the car has a dash cover then the interior is probably trashed. Pictures do not tell everything, but they get you in the ball park. If the engine looks old with the powder coating coming off the manifold then probably it needs an upper end reseal and then probably a pan gasket and motor mounts. These things are easy to detect because they all go at about the same age.

If someone just put on a new timing belt then is was probably done wrong. To find out you will have to tear the engine down. The only thing you save is the price of the belt and maybe a water pump.

If the cruise control works on an 80 to 87 car then you can start to assume the owner is detailed enough to care about the other accessories and the car might be in good shape. If the car has new tires and a new battery then you can assume some charging and suspension problems.

If the car has after market modifications then the owner probably hacked away at other parts of the car and that will need attention. If the modifications are a loud exhaust and wide tires then the owner has been thrashing the car and it will have mechanical problems. I look at enhancements as things I can sell when I put the car back to stock. I can deduct some of the pieces from the price I am willing to pay. This makes such cars possible better buys.

This is not rocket science. Things become tough when one is looking for that perfect one and only 928. If that is the case buy the 1200 mile light green 78 and pay $45K. Otherwise knock some money off and assume the worst. If you are paying $5k to $10K for a 928 and cannot afford to dump it in the lake, then you should be putting the money in the bank or the kid's college fund. Sports and collector cars are play money. You will never get back what you put in them. It is just an experience. If you keep the right attitude then it is agood experience. Otherwise buy a Toyota.

BTW - Jim do you have a lead on that GTS that was smashed in the rear?

Dan the Pod Guy

Jim bailey - 928 International

No it was resold.....on Ebay as I recall...was several years ago